IF reader reaction is anything to go by, last month’s column seemed to hit the spot on a couple of issues, not least the frustration of judging overly-large riders competing on ponies in the ridden M and M classes.

It found its way to various social media platforms as well as a leading equestrian magazine, with the debate stretching to embrace all ridden show classes.

Normally it’s a case of wait and see if any of the governing bodies stand up to act upon popular opinion, however it has taken no time at all for one of them to take the issue forward.

The youngest of the showing societies, The Showing Register, was set up by Gail Chapman, a well known exhibitor, judge and sponsor turned administrator, who is keen to encourage the amateur exhibitor with ‘best value’ showing membership through a showing register.

The aims of TSR include education, support and innovation and it is to the latter that her attention has focused in an effort to make sure that riders are suitably mounted on show grounds both whilst working and competing.

Having worked closely on this with Tony Tyler, deputy chief executive of World Horse Welfare, TSR has sent out for consultation with all stakeholders within the showing industry, a rule proposal which centres on rider weights.

As yet, there is no definitive statement on the weight bearing capacity of the equine, although some professionals consider a maximum of 20% rider weight with tack to the weight of the equine.

A weight ratio is not yet scientifically proven, however research on it is currently being undertaken by WHW as well as the British Equestrian Federation.

The TSR rule proposal is as follows: “At all horse shows organised by or affiliated to The Showing Register, riders must be an appropriate weight for the horse or pony that they are riding. This rule applies to the whole venue and includes working in and competing. Judges and show officials are authorised to advise riders if they are compromising the welfare of their horse or pony that they are riding and can ask the rider to dismount if two or more officials are in agreement.”

There is definitely a welfare issue here which needs to be addressed; however does the focus on weight go far enough?

It looks as if the controversy which raged after the rosettes were given out in the ridden Clydesdale class at this year’s Royal Highland has been put to bed in a recent statement from Grandstand Media, the organisers of the Horse of the Year Show.

Readers will remember that the rules appeared to be contravened by a number of exhibitors who chose to use driving bits when the rules clearly stated that they were not allowed in this, a ridden class.

While one would normally have expected the organising show to act upon this, I understand that two societies wrote and complained to Grandstand Media.

Having checked the legality as to whether the competitor should be disqualified, Grandstand was not able to uphold the disqualification due to the rules being guidelines and not actual rules.

The HOYS organisers will be taking the ‘guidelines’ and converting them to a rule base within the HOYS rulebook.

As to an official line from the HOYS office: “The winner of the British Ridden Heavy Horse HOYS ticket at The Royal Highland is confirmed as Croaghmore Sam. Currently, both The Clydesdale Society and British Ridden Heavy Horse Society offer guidelines only for their showing competitors. Due to this we have not been able to uphold the restriction of the Liverpool bit. We will be rectifying this by formatting a rule base from The Clydesdale and British Ridden Heavy Horse society guidelines which will be placed within the HOYS rule book, and will apply to the British Ridden Heavy Horse class at this year’s Show and for all future HOYS qualifiers.”

The qualifier will have to get used to a riding bit as, unlike the ring at Ingliston, the Birmingham gate will be firmly closed should it appear in a Liverpool or any other driving bit.

At the end of the day, ridden heavy horse exhibitors have to embrace all that is true to the riding discipline and leave their driving harness, bits included, in the tack room.

Readers may remember that several years ago I waxed lyrical in a November column about the most beautiful Irish Sports mare which I had seen at the home in Newtownmountkennedy of a friend, Paula Cullen.

One of a small number of sports horses bred by Paula in Co Wicklow, Paulank Brockagh at that time had recently won the six year old show jumping championship of Ireland. I was delighted to see this star elevate to the top of eventing when she won the Badminton title for Australian Sam Griffith in 2014.

It was only last week that the combination appeared on our screens yet again, this time taking individual fourth place at the Rio Olympics as well as proving to be the mainstay of the bronze medal Australian team.

The success of this beautiful 13-year -old mare by Touchdown, surely highlights three things: firstly it is possible to combine excellence in conformation, movement and quality with performance; secondly it shows the merit in the well-established Irish Sports Horse breeding programme; and thirdly, there is still a place for the discerning small time breeder pursuing a hobby.

Finally, I recently bumped into Cheryl Frith now resident in Shropshire, who until recently ran a successful B and B at Strontian in Argyll.

A well-known breeder of Welsh cobs, her Ristol prefix was a familiar name in the prize lists round the Scottish shows. Noteworthy was Ristol Corrine, a bay filly foal by Ty’r Eos Lord Jim; she hit the headlines in 1999 when she was awarded the overall Welsh Pony and Cob Society Silver Medal when judged overall champion of all ages within her section at the All Welsh which was judged that year in front of Kinross House.

Some 17 years on, Corrine has hit the headlines once more when she partnered her owner/breeder this month to win the Catalyst Capital 50+ Rider Challenge at the NPS Summer Championship Show at Malvern.

Catering for riders who have attained their 50th birthday but who have not ridden in the ring for a minimum of seven years, Cheryl proudly claimed that the cumulative age of their success was a mere 85 years.

The win also means that her chosen charity of Equine Grass Sickness will benefit from the prize fund of £100 donated by the sponsors.